Charles Vernon Gridley

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Charles Vernon Gridley (24 November 1844 – 25 May 1898) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

Born in Logansport, Indiana, Gridley was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1860. Reporting for duty with his class in September 1863, Gridley joined the sloop-of-war Oneida with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and distinguished himself with David Farragut at the Battle of Mobile Bay 5 August 1864.

Promoted to Lieutenant in 1867 and Commander in 1882, he spent the next 30 years at various stations around the world, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy. Captain Gridley took command of Olympia, Admiral George Dewey's famous flagship, 27 April 1898, a post which he held despite failing health during the Battle of Manila Bay 1 May, 1898. It was that morning that Dewey gave his famous command: "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," immortalizing the captain.

After the destruction of the Spanish squadron and the capture of Manila, Gridley was obliged to leave his command because of his health, and died en route to the United States at Kobe, Japan. Chalres Vernon Gridley is directly descended from Thomas Gridley (1612-1653), who emmigrated from England to the New England area in 1633.

Four ships in the United States Navy have been named for him.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.